Change of power in North Macedonia
#98
Dear Friends of Democracy,
What is one of the best indicators of a functioning democracy?
A peaceful transfer of power.
In this respect, yesterday was a good day for North Macedonia.
Both the president and the government were crushed in the elections - and conceded defeat.
This is, for example, what President Stevo Pendarovski said in a news conference, "The results are clear... I want to congratulate victory to those who won."
Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova will follow Pendarovski, who received nearly 65 per cent support at the runoff election. The right-wing challenger is a Macedonian university professor and lawyer, and will be North Macedonia's first female head of state, which is a mostly ceremonial position in the Balkan country.
What is more important for the country is the change in parliament.
The ruling Social Democrats (SDSM) won only 19 seats, losing 27 seats in the 120-seat parliament.
On the other hand, the right-wing nationalist opposition VMRO-DPMNE party (heading a 22-party coalition called "Your Macedonia”) gained 43.14 per cent of the vote, which will be 59 seats, almost half of all seats.
Why did voters in the tiny Balkan country of 2 million vote for change?
"They have expressed frustration with corruption, the slow pace of reform, and the sluggish advance of North Macedonia's bid to join the European Union,"
North Macedonia has been a candidate to join the European Union since 2005, but neighbouring Greece blocked its membership over a dispute about the country's name. 2018, a historic agreement was reached, adding "North" to the country's name. The agreement allowed Skopje to join NATO in 2020, but there is still a long way to go before joining the European Union.
✊ The elections in North Macedonia are an alarm signal for Europe to give states that are committed to democratic values better perspectives of joining the European Union.
See you in Europe,
Johannes